The forest that once covered Dartmoor began
to be cleared by the early Stone Age people during the retreat of the
last Ice Age some 6,000 years ago. The land began to be farmed by the
Neolithic people some 3,500 years ago and they, using the plentiful supply
of granite stones on the moor, constructed many buildings and monuments.
Remains of some of the oldest buildings in England, built during the period
3500 - 1500 BC, are plentiful on the moor. These cover the transition
from the New Stone Age to the Bronze Age. Merrivale is one of the largest
complex of stone rows, stone circles, cairns, cists and standing stones
found on Dartmoor. It is easy to visit as it lies only 200 yards from
the main Princetown to Tavistock road (the B3357) and there is plenty
of nearby car parking. The remains at Merrivale include:-

2 stone circles
An avenue
A Double Row
A Single Row
A large cist (burial grave)
Standing Stones
Hut-circles.